Golf target

ABSTRACT

A golf practice target in the form of a target green is provided with different colored lights which are lit up by ball landing on the target green.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a golf target which is in theform of a practice green to be hit at by golfer's in driving rangefacilities and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Golf is becoming an extremely popular game. Driving ranges arebeing built everywhere around the world to accommodate people who wantto practice their golf ball hitting skills. Most up to date drivingranges include simulated greens at which people hit to determine theirshot accuracy.

[0003] A conventional target green found at driving ranges, golfcourses, or even larger property private homes is not provided withanything in the way of an indicator to tell a person if the green hasbeen hit by a shot or what location of the green has been hit by a shot.People have to rely upon their eyesight to make these determinations. Aperson's ability to see where the shot has landed can be adverselyaffected by many factors including the distance separating the personfrom the green, overly bright or unduly dim lighting conditions whichoften occur during regular daylight hours and, most importantly, darklighting conditions found in evening or night hours. In this regard,many driving ranges do have night lighting in the tee-off area but notin the ball landing area. Accordingly, people using driving rangefacilities in the evening and night hours when driving ranges are oftenbusy are not able to see where their shots land.

[0004] In the past there have been some attempts made to overcome theproblems noted above. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,980,392 describes agolf ball practice green which has lights that are illuminated by golfball impact with the practice green. The practice green of the '392patent, if functioning properly, therefore enables a person hitting ashot at the green to see whether or not the ball has landed on thegreen.

[0005] There are however deficiencies and problems associated with thestructure of U.S. Pat. No. 5,980,392. For example, even though thestructure when it is properly functioning does give feedback that it hasbeen hit does not provide any type of indication as to where the ballhas landed on the practice green. Therefore if the practice green is ofsubstantial size, as it should be for driving range use, a personhitting the green still does not know how accurate his/her shot has beenrelative to a specific location on the green. Therefore if the personwas aiming at a specific location the shot may have landed 10 feet fromthe location or it may have landed 50 feet from the location. There issimply no way of determining this when using the practice green of the'392 patent.

[0006] Another negative feature of the structure of the '392 patent isthat it relies upon a constant supply of air to ensure its operation.This supply of air separates two surfaces which act as electricalcontacts. The air therefore keeps the contacts open to prevent operationof the hit indicating light on the practice green. The impact of a ballwith the practice green is sufficient to push the two surfaces togetherovercoming the air pressure normally holding the surfaces separated fromone another. This operational design necessitates constant power to thepractice green for maintaining the air supply and is subject to failurein the event that the power or air supply is somehow cut off or if airleaks develop in the system in which case the air pressure is no longersufficient to produce separation of the two switch surfaces. Under anyof these conditions the switch surfaces will automatically come incontact with one another and produce a constant illumination of the hitindicating lights.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0007] The present invention provides a golf target e.g. a simulatedgolf practice green which has golf ball impact indicating features andwhich is extremely reliable in its operation.

[0008] According to an aspect of the invention the golf target furtherincludes visual indicators which not only provide feedback that thetarget has been hit by a golf ball but additionally provides feedback asto where the golf ball has landed on the target.

[0009] More specifically, the golf target of the present invention hasat least one light that lights up to indicate when the target is hit bya golf ball. The golf target includes a switch region comprising firstand second metallic surfaces separated from one another by a meshmaterial and sandwiched between a support surface and an exposed ballreceiving surface of the target. The target further includes first andsecond switch contacts for operating the light. These switch contactsare normally in an open condition in which the light is off. The firstmetallic surface is pressable through the mesh material onto the secondmetallic surface by golf ball impact with the golf ball receivingsurface to move the switch contacts to a closed condition in which thelight is turned on.

[0010] According to an aspect of the invention, the golf target includesa plurality of different colored lights and separate switch regions atdifferent locations on the golf target. Each of the switch regions isassociated with a specific one of the different colored lights. In thisembodiment, a person hitting the green with a golf ball will know thelanding location of the ball on the golf target according to which oneof the lights is illuminated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The above as well as other advantages and features of the presentinvention will be described in greater detail according to the preferredembodiments of the present invention in which;

[0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf target practice greenaccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the base of the frame of the golftarget practice green of FIG. 1;

[0014]FIG. 3 is perspective view of the full frame constructionincluding both base and the upper structure parts of the frame of thegolf target practice green of FIG. 1;

[0015]FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 additionally showing thecovering construction added to part of the upper structure part of theframe;

[0016]FIG. 5 is a front view of the assembly of FIG. 4;

[0017]FIG. 6 is a side view of the assembly of FIG. 5;

[0018]FIG. 6a is an enlarged sectional view through the flag mountingcup from the assembly of FIGS. 5 and 6;

[0019]FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view showing the mounting of theexternal cover to the frame from the construction of FIGS. 4 and 5 ofthe drawings; and

[0020]FIG. 8 is sectional view through the cover of FIG. 7 showing thedifferent layers of cover and further showing the positioning of lightilluminating switch contacts in different regions of the cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION ACCORDING TO THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THEPRESENT INVENTION IN WHICH

[0021]FIG. 1 shows a golf ball target practice green generally indicatedat 1. This green comprises a cover construction 3 supported by an upperstructure part 5 of a support frame 6. The upper structure part 5 of thesupport frame is secured by a pivot attachment 17 to a base part 7 ofthe frame at the front of the frame. Extending upwardly from the rear ofthe frame is a light mounting post 9 provided with a plurality ofdifferent colored lights 11, Further lights 19 are provided at theforward hinged connection 17 between the upper and lower parts of theframe.

[0022]FIG. 1 shows a golf ball hit at and in position to land on thetarget green. The location on the green where the ball lands willdictate which one of the various different lights is illuminated as tobe described later in detail.

[0023] A feature of the invention which is apparent in FIG. 1 is thatthe cover construction 3 is divided into distinct cover regions 3 a, 3b, 3 c and 3 d. These cover regions preferably have different exteriorcolors making it easier to visually see what area the ball landed on incomparison to for example, a solid color completely over the surface ofthe target green.

[0024] Further provided on the target green is a center positioned flag13 mounted in a support cup 15 which is consistent in size with aregulation putting cup.

[0025] In the embodiment shown flag 13 is located centrally of the greenbut could obviously be located at any position on the green. Consistentwith a normal golf situation people aiming at the green will attempt toeither land or get their ball to roll as close as possible to the flagor even into the flag cup.

[0026] Before describing the light illuminating features of the presentinvention reference is had to FIGS. 2 through 6 of the drawings. Thesefigures show in better detail how the frame is constructed. FIG. 2 showsthat the frame base 7 comprises an outer ring 7 a made from a rigidpreferably light weight material such as light weight steel, aluminum oreven a rigid plastic material. The upright post 9 connects to the rearof ring 7 a. Also provided to the rear of ring 7 a are a pair of heightadjustable struts 21. The pivot mount 17 to receive the upper framestructure is provided at the front of ring 7 a. Lights 19 are mounted inthe pivot mount 17.

[0027] In use the lights 19 as well as the lights 11 will be preferablycovered by metal screens which will allow clear visibility of the lightsbut which will not allow a golf ball to reach and damage the lights. Inthe alternative the lights may be recessed within the frame and coveredby impact resistant lenses of different colors which provide thedifferent light colorings.

[0028]FIG. 3 shows that the upper part of frame 5 is formed from anouter ring 5 a corresponding in shape and size to the base ring 7 a.However, the upper frame part 5 further includes an interior latticelike construction formed by frame bars 5 b, 5 c and 5 d interiorly offrame ring 5 a.

[0029] Once again ring 5 a as well as the frame bars 5 b, 5 c and 5 dall have a light weight rigid construction.

[0030] As will be appreciated from FIG. 3 the entire frame is relativelylight in weight making it easily moveable to different positions on adriving range or any other location where the target green is used.

[0031]FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings show the addition of the two coverregions 3 a and 3 b to the upper part of the frame. In order to completethe green assembly the further cover regions 3 c and 3 d are then addedto the construction to produce the overall assembly shown in FIG. 1 ofthe drawings.

[0032]FIG. 6 of the drawings shows that the upper frame part 5 isadjustable to different angles relative to the base part 7 of the frame.The angle adjustment is provided by means of the height adjustablestruts 21 at the back of the practice green and the pivot attachment 17between the upper and lower frame parts at the front of the practicegreen. This angle adjustment is useful dependent upon the distance thegreen is set from the tee-off area. For example, if the green is set ata substantial distance of for example 150 yards or more from the tee-offarea the upper frame part is preferably set to a relatively steep anglemaking it easier to see where the ball impacts with the green. When thegreen is set at closer distances to the tee-off area the upper framepart is preferably set to a much shallower angle relative to the basepart of the frame.

[0033] Regardless of the depth of the angle, the upper frame part isalways angled downwardly forwardly towards the tee-off area. Thisensures that balls hit onto the covering construction on the upper framepart will roll off of the target green. As such, a person hitting at thetarget will always be hitting onto a clean green surface making it mucheasier to determine whether or not it was his/her ball that actually hitthe green.

[0034] As an added advantage, the slope of the green can be directed toa ball accumulation area making it much easier to collect the balls hitat the green from the driving range.

[0035]FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings show key features of the inventionrelating to the actual switch regions which provide operation of thelights of the target green.

[0036] The cover construction 3 in the preferred embodiment as showncomprises an upper carpet material 31 which gives the target a grasslike appearance. The carpet material may for example be about one eighthinch in thickness.

[0037] Provided beneath carpet material 31 is a layer of flexible andresilient material 33. This is preferably a rubber material about oneeighth inch in thickness.

[0038] Provided beneath layer 33 is a metallic layer 35 which ispreferably extremely thin e.g., in the order of about one-one hundredthsof an inch in thickness. This can be a metal foil attached directly tothe undersurface of rubber layer 33 or it could be a layer of extremelythin spring steel either attached to or free from rubber layer 33 butcovered by the rubber layer.

[0039] A similar metal layer 39 is provided beneath metal layer 35.However, the first metal layer 35 is separated from the second metallayer 39 by means of a non metallic i.e., non current conducting meshmaterial 37. This mesh material which preferably has a plasticconstruction may for example be about a tenth of an inch in thickness tokeep the two metal layers 35 and 39 normally separated from one another.

[0040] Provided beneath metal layer 39 is a further flexible andresilient layer 41. Layer 41 is preferably consistent in materialselection and thickness with layer 35.

[0041] The entire cover is then supported by a rigid support layer 43which may for example have a wooden construction and is preferably aboutthree quarters of an inch in thickness.

[0042]FIG. 8 of the drawings shows that the cover construction furtherincludes a plurality of switch contacts 51, 53, 57, 59, 63 and 65. Thecontacts 53, 59 and 65 are mounted in the part of the cover constructionabove the mesh layer 37 and are wired into the first metal layer 35. Thecontacts 51, 57 and 63 are provided in the cover construction below mesh37 and are wired into the second metallic layer 39. With thisarrangement the first group of contacts 55, 59 and 65 are normally notin contact with i.e. are in an open condition relative to the secondgroup of contacts 51, 57 and 63.

[0043] As earlier described, the cover construction is divided intoseparate cover regions 3 a through 3 d. Cover regions 3 a, 3 b and 3 care shown in FIG. 8 of the drawings. Each of these cover regions is aseparate switch region of the target green. In this regard there areactual breaks or openings 55 and 61 shown in FIG. 8 provided in thesecond or lower metal layer 39. As such switch contact 51 is provided ina distinct switch region from switch contact 57 which is provided in adistinct or separate switch region from contact 63. Therefore coverregion 3 a is a first switch region which is wired to one of the lights11 and also wired to one of the lights 19. Cover region 3 b is a secondswitch region which is wired to another one of the lights 11 and anotherone of the lights 19 while cover region 3 c is still a further switchregion wired to a different one of the lights 11 and a different one ofthe lights 19. As can be seen in the drawings there are four differentswitch regions and there are four different lights. Accordingly, eachone of these switch regions is associated with a particular one of thelights.

[0044] When a golf ball is hit onto the target green it will causeactivation of one of the lights. The particular light that is turned ondepends upon which area of the green is hit by the ball. For example, ifthe ball lands on cover region 3 a the impact of the ball with thatparticular cover region forces the first metal layer 35 to be presseddownwardly through the mesh layer 39 onto the second metal layer 39closing the contacts 53 and 51 with one another in cover region 3 a.This will produce a lighting of the particular light from group 11 andfrom group 19 which is electrically connected to the two contacts 53 and51. However, because the lower metal layer 39 is broken into separate ordistinct non electrically connected regions the downward pushing on theupper metal layer by the golf ball will not produce electrical contactbetween switch contact 53 and switch contact 57 or switch contact 63. Assuch, only one of the lights from light group 11 and only one of thelights from group 19 will be turned on.

[0045] In the actual tee-off area a guide or directory will be providedto show what light color is associated with a particular region of thetarget green. For example, one of the lights may produce a greenlighting effect while another one of the lights produces a red lightingeffect. The green light may be associated with a switch region which isfor example, 30 to 40 feet from the center of the green i.e., the areawhere flag 13 is located while the red light may for example, beassociated with a switch region which is 20 to 30 feet from the centerof the green. The directory will show that if the green light isactivated the person hitting the ball has landed between 30 to 40 feetfrom the flag whereas if the red light is illuminated the directory willshow that the person has landed between 20 and 30 feet from the flag. Inthis manner, the person hitting the balls will clearly know how accuratethe shot has been.

[0046] According to another embodiment of the present invention the flagsupport cup 15 is electrically wired to all of the lights on the targetgreen. Therefore if the person is able to hit or roll the ball into cup15 all of the lights will light up simultaneously. FIG. 6a of thedrawings shows that the cup 15 funnels down to a tube 71 which feeds anyball hit into the cup back out to the ball collection region around thetarget green. A small sensor or switch 73 is provided in tube 71 and asthe ball passes this switch or sensor while it is rolling down the tubeall of the lights are simultaneously turned on for a timed period.

[0047] Although various preferred embodiments of the present inventionhave been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilledin the art that variations may be made without departing from the spiritof the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A golf target having atleast one light that lights up to indicate when said target is hit by agolf ball, said golf target including a switch region comprising firstand second metallic surfaces separated from one another by a meshmaterial and sandwiched between a support surface and an exposed ballreceiving surface of the target, and first and second switch contactsfor operating the light, said switch contacts normally being in an opencondition in which the light is off, said first metallic surface beingpressable through said mesh material onto said second metallic surfaceby golf ball impact with the ball receiving surface to move said switchcontacts to a closed condition in which the light is turned on.
 2. Agolf target as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first metallic surfacecomprises a backing material on said ball receiving surface.
 3. A golftarget as claimed in claim 2 wherein said ball receiving surfacecomprises a thin layer of rubber material covered with a layer of grasssimulating carpet material.
 4. A golf target as claimed in claim 2wherein said first switch contact is located to a first side of saidmesh material and wired to said first metallic surface and wherein saidsecond switch contact is located to a second side of said mesh materialand wired to said second metallic surface.
 5. A golf target having aplurality of different colored lights which light up to indicate whensaid target is hit by golf balls said target including a plurality ofball impact switch regions each of which is electrically connected withan associated one of said different colored lights, each switch regioncomprises first and second metallic surfaces separated from one anotherby a mesh material and sandwiched between a support surface and anexposed flexible and resilient ball receiving cover part of the target,and first and second switch contacts for operating the associated one ofthe lights, said switch contacts normally being in an open condition inwhich the associated one of the lights is off, said first metallicsurface being pressable through said mesh material onto said secondmetallic surface by golf ball impact with said ball receiving cover partto move said switch contacts to a closed condition in each switch regionwhereby the associated one of the lights is turned on.
 6. A golf targetas claimed in claim 5 wherein the first switch contacts are carried bysaid first metallic surface and the second switch contacts are carriedby the second metallic surface.
 7. A golf target as claimed in claim 6wherein said switch regions are provided at different locations on saidtarget.
 8. A golf target as claimed in claim 6 including a centerlocation in said golf target and wherein said switch regions areprovided at different distances from said center location of said golftarget.
 9. A golf target as claimed in claim 7 in which said targetincludes a mounting frame having a base part and an upper part, saidswitch regions being provided on said upper part of said frame which hasa forward end pivot connection to said base part of said mounting frame,said mounting frame further including height adjustment means which isadjusted to provide different angled settings of said upper partrelative to said base part of said mounting frame.
 10. A golf target asclaimed in claim 5 including a flag supported in a cup of said target,said cup being electrically connected to a plurality of said lightswhich are simultaneously turned on by a golf ball hit into said cup. 11.A golf target having a plurality of different colored lights which lightup to indicate when and where said target is hit by golf balls, saidtarget including a plurality of ball impact regions at differentlocations on said target and each impact region including switch meansfor operating one of said lights.
 12. A golf target as claimed in claim11 including a remote user's guide which provides information withrespect to the location of each of said impact regions on said target.